Life and Ministry of the Christ in Isaiah
#5 Isaiah 28
5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, 6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
This is Christ in us, our hope and life, glory and beauty.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
The Apostle Paul says this refers to the gift of tongues, and that one of the purposes of tongues is judgment on Israel (1 Corinthians 14:21-22).
Then this:
14 Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, ye afflicted men, and ye princes of this people that is in Jerusalem.
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with Hades, and agreements with death; if the rushing storm should pass, it shall not come upon us: we have made falsehood our hope, and by falsehood shall we be protected:
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord, Behold, I lay for the foundations of Sion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed.
17 And I will cause judgement to be for hope, and my compassion shall be for just measures, and ye that trust vainly in falsehood shall fall: for the storm shall by no means pass by you,
18 except it also take away your covenant of death, and your trust in Hades shall by no means stand: if the rushing storm should come upon you, ye shall be beaten down by it.
19 Whenever it shall pass by, it shall take you; morning by morning it shall pass by in the day, and in the night there shall be an evil hope. Learn to hear,
20 ye that are distressed; we cannot fight, but we are ourselves too weak for you to be gathered. (LXX)
The main prophecy of Christ being, 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord, Behold, I lay for the foundations of Sion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed.
Christ will be a corner stone, the foundation for a building God will build, a new temple for his dwelling on earth.
This is an important verse for both Peter and Paul:
1 Peter 2:4-8
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
God is building a house, a spiritual temple, and Christ is the corner stone, the foundation. This stone is precious to him who believes, but the disobedient (those who refuse to believe and obey) stumble over him.
Peter actually alludes to three different prophecies: Isaiah 28 in v 6; Psalm 118:22-23 in v 7, The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes; and Isaiah 8:14 in v 8, And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Jesus also quoted Psalm 118:22-23 and applied it to himself in Matthew 21:42,
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
This is a fundamental truth of the New Testament – Christ is the corner stone for a new temple.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Paul, in explaining why the Jews, the covenant people, are not coming to Christ but the Gentiles are, quotes Isaiah 28:16. Actually, he combines Isaiah 28:16 with 8:14, seeing them as one.
This idea of Christ as a stone is foundational to the gospel. Peter and Paul quote Isaiah 28:16 to say Christ is the corner stone of a new and spiritual temple. They refer to Isaiah 8:14 to say Christ is a stumbling stone, a rock of offence. Peter adds Psalm 118:22 to say that Jesus is the stone which the builders refused, which has become the head stone of the corner (he had heard Jesus say this of himself). David spoke of this stone. 250 years later Isaiah spoke of it. Then some 150 years later Daniel spoke of it again when he interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces (2:32) which is explained in v 44, And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Jesus, after quoting David, then refers to Daniel: Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:42-44). He says he is that stone.
God promised a stone, a precious corner stone, which would be the foundation of a new temple; which would also be a rock of offence and a stone of stumbling. Then through Daniel He told us this stone would become a mountain, a kingdom that shall stand for ever. Christ is this precious stone, the corner stone which the builder rejected but which God has made the head stone of the corner; and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Amen!
I lay in Zion for a foundation, a Stone,
I lay in Zion for a foundation, a Stone,
A tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone,
A sure Foundation, a sure Foundation.
A tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone,
he that believeth shall, shall not make haste.
~Leon Patillo, 1982
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Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible passages are KJV
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